Sharad Pawar stable at Breach Candy as Shinde, Adani, Sule and a stream of leaders call

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar is being treated at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. A steady stream of political leaders has visited him, and many others have telephoned to ask after him. Sources say his health is improving and he may be discharged today or tomorrow.

Pawar fell ill while touring drought-hit parts of the state. He was due to visit Dudhali in Pandharpur taluka on November 1 and then Bhum-Paranda taluka. He had a cough and felt weak, and complained of chest pain. On November 2 he was admitted to a hospital in Pune, Ruby Hall. After two days of treatment he was discharged and brought to Mumbai for further tests. Mid-day reports that doctors are treating a respiratory and chest infection, and that he had pleuritic chest pain on admission in Pune. Reports differ on what happened between the two hospitals. Some say he was taken straight to Breach Candy, while others say he first went to his Silver Oak residence and was readmitted when his condition worsened again.

Dr Pratit Samdani of Breach Candy said Pawar's condition is stable. According to the doctor, Pawar was admitted on Wednesday night and his treatment is continuing. He will be kept under observation as a precaution. His discomfort has eased, and doctors have found him fit for discharge. Supriya Sule, his daughter and an MP, is with him. She had said earlier that his tests were under way and all his health parameters were stable.

The latest visitor was Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who arrived without notice with Sachin Ahir and Milind Deora. Shinde said: "I have just met Pawar saheb. His health is good and improving. Saheb will be discharged tomorrow. Pawar saheb is a big leader." He added that the two discussed the state's drought and remedial measures. He said he had asked Pawar not to rush the discharge and to rest, and that the doctors had told him Pawar's health is good. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis may visit later today after his scheduled engagements. He has already phoned Sule, asked after Pawar and conveyed wishes for a speedy recovery.

On Thursday, November 5, NCP leader and MP Praful Patel, a longtime associate of Pawar, came to the hospital. Reports differ on the timing and length of the meeting. One says they spoke at length, another says for about an hour, and a third says for an hour and a half, with Patel visiting during the night. Patel said afterwards: "I had gone to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. I paid a courtesy call on respected Shri Sharad Pawar Saheb and asked after his health." A video of the meeting has surfaced. In it Pawar is said to have told Patel they would sit together later, but reports disagree on whether that is after the 10th or after the 11th. One report says Ajit Pawar was with Patel. Political circles are reading much into the meeting. One report says Patel went to exert pressure, citing friction between Parth Pawar and senior leaders over decisions allegedly taken without informing them.

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, MLA Rana Jagjitsinh Patil and Jayant Patil of the Peasants and Workers Party also met Pawar. Sunetra Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and president of the NCP, visited as well. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut gave him a copy of his book "Bodh Kirtan". Another Sena (UBT) MP, Anil Desai, also called on him. Shashikant Shinde, state president of Pawar's party, is due to visit. Industrialist Gautam Adani came on Friday, November 6, and asked after his health. The two are close, and Adani last inaugurated the AI centre in Baramati.

Many leaders phoned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Pawar on Wednesday, November 4. Family friend and close associate Vitthal Maniyar confirmed the call to reporters outside the hospital and said the Prime Minister told Pawar warmly to put his health first and rest fully. Maniyar quoted Modi as saying: "Supriya and we will look after the country. Take care of your health and rest. May your blessings stay with us." Another account quotes Modi as saying: "You guided the country for so many years. Now Supriya Sule and we will look after the country. You just take care of your health and give us your blessings." Pawar thanked him and said: "With all of you there, I have no worry about the country."

MNS president Raj Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee, Rajnath Singh and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also called. Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are reported to have phoned too, and sources say they had also called when he was in Pune.